WO2014209588A1

WO2014209588A1 - Hybrid wi-fi and power router transmitter

Info

Publication number: WO2014209588A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/041558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael A. Leabman; Gregory Scott Brewer
Original assignee: Energous Corporation
Priority date: 2013-06-25
Filing date: 2014-06-09
Publication date: 2014-12-31

Abstract

The present disclosure may provide an hybrid transmitter which may be used to provide wireless power transmission (WPT). In some embodiments, hybrid transmitters may include antenna elements designed to transmit WI-Fi signal or to function as power router which may function simultaneously. In other embodiments, hybrid transmitters may only transmit a single signal and a switch may change the operation mode. In addition, transmitters may include communications components which may allow for communication to various electronic equipment including phones, computers and others.

Description

TITLE

HYBRID WI-FI AND POWER ROUTER. TRANSMITTER

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure is related to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent

Application Nos. 13/891,430 filed May 10, 2013, entitled "Methodology For Pocket- forming": 13/891,445 filed May 10, 2013, eniitled 'Transmitters For Wireless Power Transmission^"'; and 13/925,469 filed June 24, 2013, entitled "Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming" the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by these references.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to electronic transmitters and more particularly to transmitter for wireless power transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Portable electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks and others, have become an everyday need in the way we communicate and Interact with others. The frequent use of these devices may require a significant amount of power, which may easily deplete the batteries attached to these devices. Therefore, a user is frequently needed to plug in the device io a power source, and recharge such device. This may be inconvenient and troublesome if the user forgets to plug in or otherwise charge a device, the device may run out of power and be of no use to the user until the user is again able to charge the device.

[0004] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a wireless power transmission system where electronic devices may be powered without, requiring extra chargers or plugs, and where the mobility and portability of electronic devices may not be compromised,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present disclosure provides a hybrid transmitter which may function as power router or Wi-Fi. Hybrid transmitter may be employed for sending Radio frequency (RF) or/and Wi-Fi signals to electronic devices which may incorporate receivers. Such receivers may convert RF signals into suitable electricity for powering and charging a plurality of electric devices. Wireless power transmission allows po wering and charging a plurality of electrical devices without wires as well as Wi-Fi transmission.

[0006] To function as power router, a hybrid transmitter including at least two antenna elements may generate RF signals through the use of one or more Radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) which may be managed by one or more microcontrollers. Hybrid Transmitters may receive power from, a power source, which may provide enough electricity for a subsequent conversion to RF signal

[0007] In an embodiment, a hybrid transmitter including half of the antenna elements for power router and the other half for Wi-Fi. signal may he provided. A switch may change the operation, mode between Wi-Fi and power router. Both, Wi-Fi and power router signals may be transmitted simultaneously,

[0008] In another embodiment, a hybrid transmitter including all the antenna elements in the array may transmit Wi-Fi signal and a switch may change the operation mode to power router. Thus only one signal may he transmitted at the same time.

[0009] Hybrid Transmitter provided in the present invention may provide wireless power transmission while eliminating the use of wires or pads for charging devices and transmitting Wi-Fi signal, which may require tedious procedures such as plugging to a wall. In addition, electronic equipment may require less components as typical wall chargers may not be required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing prior art, the figures represent aspects of the present disclosure,

[001 1 ] Figure 1 shows an example of a transmitter that can be for wireless power transmission, according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 shows an example of a receiver for wireless power transmission, according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3 depicts a flat hybrid transmitter in a front view, according to an embodiment,

[0014] Figure 4 illustrates wireless power transmission using Wi-Fi and pocket- forming for power router, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Definitions

[0015] "Pocket- forming" may refer to generating two or more RF waves which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns.

[0016] "Pockets of energy" may refer to areas or regions of space where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves, [0017] "Null-space" may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RF waves,

[0018] "Transmitter¹' may refer to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signals are directed to a target,

[0019] "Receiver" may refer to a. device including at least one antenna element, at least one rectifying circuit and at least one power converter, which may utilize pockets of energy for powering, or charging an electronic device.

[0020] ''Adaptive pocket-forming" may refer to dynamically adjusting pocket- forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, in the drawings, which are not to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1 shows an example of a transmitter 100 that can be for wireless power transmission. In this embodiment, transmitter 100 may be Used to provide wireless power transmission. Transmitter 100 may include a housing 102 having at least two or more antenna elements 104, at least one RF integrated circuit (RFIC 106), at least one micro-controller 108, and one communications component 110.

[0023] Micro-controller 108 may include a digital signal processor (DSP), PIC-

Class microprocessor, central processing unit, computer and the like. Micro-controller 108 may control a variety of features of RFIC 106 such as, time emission of pocket- forming, direction of the pocket-forming, bounce angle, power intensity and the like. Furthermore, micro-controller 108 may control multiple transmissions over multiple receivers or over a single receiver.

[0024] Housing 102 may be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. Antenna elements 104 may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands such as 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz or 5.8 GHz as these frequency bands conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations part 18 (Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment). Antenna elements 104 may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. Micro-controller 108 may then process information sent by a receiver. Typically, receivers may communicate to transmitter 100 through short signals (such as RF) or through communications component 110 for determining optimum limes and locations for pocket-forming. Communications component 110 may be based on standard wireless communication protocols which may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee. In addition, communications component 110 may be used to transfer other information such as an identifier for the device or user, battery level, location or other such information. Other communications component 110 may be possible which may include radar, infrared cameras or sound devices for sonic triangulaiion for detennining the device's position. Transmitter 1.00 may also include an external power source 1 12.

[0025] Figure 2 shows an example of a receiver 200 for wireless power transmission. Receiver 200 may include a housing 202 having at least one antenna element 204, one rectifier 206. one power converter 208 and one or more communications component 210. Housing 202 can be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. Housing 202 may be an external hardware that, may be added to different electronic equipment, for example in the form of cases, or can be embedded within electronic equipment as well. Antenna element 204 may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands such as those described for transmitter 100 from FIG. 1. Antenna, element. 204 may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. As described above, receiver 200 may communicate with transmitter 100 using short signals (such as RF) or through communications component. 210 as described in FIG. 1. Power converler 208 can be a DC-DC converter which may help provide a constant voltage output, regardless of input, to an electronic device, or as in this embodiment to a battery 212.

[0026] Figure 3 depicts a flat hybrid transmitter 300 in a front view. Hybrid transmitter 300 may operate by transmitting power router and/or Wi-Fi signal. Hybrid transmitter 300 may include antenna elements 104 and RFIC 106 (not shown) in a flat arrangement which may reduce losses due the shorter distance between components, [0027] In hybrid transmitter 300, the phase and the amplitude of each pocket- forming in each antenna elements 104 may be regulated by the corresponding RFIC 106 in order to generate the desired pocket-forming and null- space steering. Furthermore, multiple pocket-forming may charge a higher number of receivers and may allow a better trajectory to such receivers.

[0028] Hybrid transmitter 300 may operate such that half of the array may transmit Wi-Fi signal and the other half of the array may transmit power router. Figure 3 shows line 302 representing a division in the array. Hybrid transmitter 300 may include a switch to control switching between Wi-Fi

[0029] and/or power router. In one embodiment, Wi-Fi and power router may simultaneously operate. In other embodiments, only Wi-Fi or power router may operate at the same time.

[0030] In another embodiment, hybrid transmitter 300 may operate in a variety of array for antenna elements 104, such arrays may increase or decrease the number of antenna elements 104 operating for each application, either transmitting power or Wi-Fi signal. In addition, hybrid transmitter 300 may not include array division, and thus the entire array of antenna elements 104 may operate for Wi-Fi signal only, and a switch may change the operation mode to power router.

[0031] Figure 4 illustrates wireless power transmission 400 using Wi-Fi and pocket-fonning for power router. Wireless power transmission 400 may include one transmitter 100 and at least two or more receivers 200, Receivers 200 may communicate with transmitter 100 as described above though FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,

[0032] Hybrid transmitter 300 may determine which signal to send (Wi-Fi or power router) to a receiver through micro-controller 108, Micro-controller 108 may receive an unique identifier for the device such as the MAC" address of a. laptop computer 406 or smartphone 408,

[0033] Once hybrid transmitter 300 identifies and locates receiver 200, a channel or path can be established by knowing the gain and phases coming from receiver 200. Hybrid transmitter 300 may start to transmit controlled Radio Frequency (RF) waves 402 which may converge in 3-d space by using a minimum of two antenna elements 104. These RF waves 402 may be produced using an external power sonrce 112 and a local oscillator chip using a suitable piezoelectric material, RF waves 402 may be controlled by RFIC 106 which may include a proprietary chip for adjusting phase and/or relative magnitudes of RF signals which may serve as inputs for antenna elements 104 to form constructive and destructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pocket-forming may take advantage of interference to change the directionality of the antenna elements 104 where constructive interference generates a pocket of energy 404 and deconstruct! e interference generates a null space. Receiver 200 may then utilize pocket of energy 404 produced by pocket-forming for charging or pow^rering an electronic device, for example a laptop computer 406 and thus effectively providing wireless power transmission using pocket-forming .

[0034] Hybrid transmitter 300 may also identify and locate receiver 200 from smartphone 408. Smartphone 408 may require Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, hybrid transmitter 300 may send the required Wi-Fi signal in parallel with RF waves 402 for powering laptop computer 406,

[0035] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments may be contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device, comprising:

connecting a hybrid transmitter to a. power source;

generating RF signals from a RF circuit connected to the transmitter;

controlling the generated RF signals with a controller to provide a power RF signal and Wi-Fi signals;

transmitting the power and Wi-Fi signals through an antenna connected to the transm tter; arid

capturing the power RF signals in a receiver with an antenna connected to the electronic device to convert the power RF signals into a DC voltage for charging or powering the electronic device and to communicate power and receiver location information between the transmitter and receiver with the Wi-Fi signals.

2. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic devi ce of claim 1, wherein the hybrid transmitter includes at least two antenna for generating the power RF signals,

3. The method for wirel ess transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is a digital signal processor, a micro-controller, a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit or other suitable processor for controlling the power RF signals and the communication i~Fi signals,

4. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising the step of switching the transmitter between sending power RF signals or sending Wi-Fi signals to the receiver for powering or communicating with the receiver, respectively.

5. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting simultaneously both Wi-Fi signals and power RF signals from the transmitter to the receiver.

6. A method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the hybrid transmitter antennas include antenna elements to transmit s Wi-Fi signals or power RF signals and wherein the hybrid transmitter further includes a switch to change transmitter operation between a power mode or a comnumication mode whereby only the Wi-Fi signals or the power RF signals are transmitted at the same time,

7. A method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device, comprising:

supplying power to a hybrid transmitter including at least two antenna, a digital signal processor (DSP) and a radio frequency integrated circuit (RPIC) and a

communication circuit;

generating power RF signals through the RFIC managed by the micro-controller and generating communication Wi-Fi signals through the communication circuit managed by the DSP;

transmitting the power RF signals and the comnumication Wi-Fi signals through the at least two antenna; and

capturing both the power RF^' signals and the communication Wi-Fi signals at an antenna embedded within a recei ver connected to the portable electronic device for charging the electronic device and for communicating with the transmitter.

8. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, further comprising:

decoding the Wi-Fi signals to identify the gain and phase of the receiver to determine the direction of the receiver;

transmitting pockets of energy consisting of power RF signals from the transmitter through the at least two RF antennas to the receiver; and

establishing channels or paths between the transmitter and the receiver for transmitting power RF signals to converge in 3-D space with phase or relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive interference patterns for pocket-forming to power the portable electronic device,

9. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein each of the at least two antenna for the hybrid transmitter include antenna elements, a predetermined portion of the antenna array elements transmit the power RF signals and a predetermined portion of the remaining antenna array elements transmits the Wi-Fi signals.

10. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the hybrid transmitter is configured to transmit both the Wi-Fi signals and ^'Power RF signals through the antenna elements simultaneously,

11. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, further comprising the steps of rectifying the power RF signals from pockets of energy and converting the rectified power RF signals into a constant DC voltage for charging or powering the portable electronic device.

12. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, farther comprising the step of switching the hybrid transmitter between the transmission of either the power RF signals or the Wi-Fi signals.

13. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the hybrid transmitter is configured in a generally fiat plane along with the at least two antenna, the micro-controller, the RFIC and the communication circuit in order to reduce losses due to the shorter distance between components on the transmitter.

14. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, wherein the DSP through the RFIC regulation within the hybrid transmitter controls phases and amplitudes of the power RF signals in each transmitter antenna in order to generate the desire pocket-forming and null-space steering,

15. The method for wdreless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the step of establishing the channel or path between the hybrid transmitter and receiver is through gain and phase information coming from the receiver through the Wi-Fi signals received by the hybrid transmitter communication circuit that continuously and dynamically identifies and locates the receiver connected to the chargeable electronic device.

16. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the hybrid transmitter determines whether a power RF signal or Wi-Fi signal is sent to the receiver through the micro-controller receiving an unique identifier from the electronic device such as a computer or smartphone MAC address. io

17. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 7, further comprising the steps of identifying and locating the receiver through a path or channel established from receiver Wi-Fi signals including gain and phase information in order to utilize an adaptive pocket-forming for focusing and avoiding obstacles interfering with the power RF signals between the receiver and the hybrid transmitter,

1 8. The method for wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 8, wherein the receiver and hybrid transmitter include omni-direcfionai antennas and the method further including allowing the power RF signals in the form of pockets of energy with null-spaces therebetween to bounce over the walls or ceiling inside a room until the path or channel is established between the transmitter and receiver.

19. A wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device, comprising: a hybrid transmitter having a source of power, at least two RF^' antennas, a RF integrated circuit, for generating power RF signals from the source of power, a digital signal processor for controlling the configuration of the power RF signals and a first communication circuitry for operating on Wi-Fi signals; and

a receiver having an RF antenna, power circuitry for rectifying and converting power RF signals received by the RF antenna into a constant DC voltage for the portable electronic device and a second communication circuitry for generating Wi-Fi signals with gain and phase information to send to the first communication circuitry of the transmitter for determining optimum times and locations for a pocket-forming to converge power RF signals in. 3-D space to define the pockets of energy to fully or partially power the portable electronic device.

20. The wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first and second communication circuitry is based on standard wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee transmitted between the RF antennas of the transmitter and receiver.

21. The wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the first and second communication circuitry include radar, infrared cameras or sound devices for sonic tri angulation for determining the position of the portable electronic device for the pocket-forming to converge the power RF waves in 3-d space to define the pockets of energy for charging or powering the electronic device.

22. The wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the antennas of the hybrid transmitter include antenn elements in an array, half of the antenna elements are for transmitting the power RF signals and half of the antenna eleinents are for transmitting the Wi-Fi signals and wherein both Wi-Fi signals and power RF signals are transmitted simultaneously.

23. The wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein all of the antenna elements of the hybrid transmitter only transmit Wi-Fi signals and further including a switch on the hybrid transmitter to change the operation mode so all of the antenna elements on the transmitter only transmit power RF signals,

24. The wireless transmission of power to a portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein the hybrid transmitter sends Wi-Fi signals i parallel with the power RF signals for powering the electronic devices.

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